The majority of NWSL athletes are currently against a possible change in the league’s schedule.
The National Women’s Soccer League Players Association indicates that a significant number of players are currently against a possible transition of the league’s schedule to a fall-spring format.
On Thursday, ESPN reported that the NWSL Board of Governors is anticipated to vote later this month on the proposal to change the current schedule, which begins in February or March and concludes in November, to a format that would start in late summer and finish in late spring. This alteration, which MLS plans to implement next year, would likely result in more matches being played in colder weather.
“The NWSLPA has consulted with our Board of Player Representatives and wider membership regarding the question of whether the NWSL should transition from a spring-to-fall to a fall-to-spring calendar,” the NWSLPA stated in a release to ESPN. “We acknowledge the advantages and disadvantages of both options and recognize that external factors — including the Women’s International Match Calendar and limited control over facilities — are influencing this discussion.
“However, we are concerned that the issue is being approached from the incorrect perspective. The pertinent question is not whether the league should change the calendar, but whether the appropriate conditions are in place to do so responsibly. At present, they are not. The capacity to manage weather-related interruptions relies on consistent control over facilities and operational flexibility among clubs, and that standard has not been achieved across the league.
“Our primary concerns in any scenario are safeguarding and enhancing Player health, safety, and performance. Generally, a majority of Players surveyed on this matter currently oppose changing the calendar.”
The NWSL’s board has been discussing the possibility of altering the season structure for at least three years, and a calendar change was narrowly rejected in late 2024, as previously reported by ESPN. Ongoing intense discussions regarding the issue have persisted within league circles, and sources suggest there may now be sufficient momentum in the boardroom to facilitate the change. Any forthcoming vote is expected to be highly competitive.
Ultimately, the league’s collective bargaining agreement with the union stipulates that “the NWSL retains the discretion to make the format change.”
“The NWSL has been actively reviewing its competition calendar, including the potential to align more closely with the international soccer framework,” an NWSL spokesperson stated in a release to ESPN on Friday. “No decision has been reached at this moment. Any change of this scale will be carefully evaluated, and we are considering input from all relevant stakeholders.”
The league must provide at least one year’s notice to the NWSLPA if it plans to transition to a fall-to-spring format. Following that, the CBA requires the league and the union to establish a scheduling committee and allow for NWSLPA input, as well as negotiate necessary changes that conflict with the existing CBA.
The NWSL Board of Governors is set to convene later this month, when another vote on the issue may occur.
MLS owners voted in November to change the calendar to align with European schedules. MLS will undergo the transition by conducting a shortened “sprint season” next spring before moving to a full season for 2027-28. MLS will initiate its new seasons in July, take a winter hiatus from mid-December through early February, and conclude the playoffs in late May.
The MLS Players Association has not yet endorsed the league’s proposal for the transition, which the union believes is necessary, sources previously informed ESPN.
Even if the NWSL decides to change its calendar, the implementation of this change could take several years.
There are natural breaks in the NWSL calendar that could facilitate a transition. The 2028 Summer Olympics will be held in Los Angeles (with the Olympic soccer events taking place across the U.S.), and the 2031 Women’s World Cup is expected to be primarily hosted in the United States, although FIFA has delayed the formal approval of that uncontested bid.
ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle contributed to this report.
